[Testing a disinfectant used for chemothermic disinfection (author's transl)].

Experiments were carried out to test the bacteriological effectiveness of an aldehyde-based disinfectant used for the chemothermic disinfection of instruments. The product is designed to be added to instrument washing machines whereby the temperature should be 65 degrees C. The death rate by means of heat (65 degrees C) of 4 different species of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris), which were all suspended in four different media, was determined. E. coli proved to be the most thermoresistant. It was not possible to destroy all the bacteria within one hour. The disinfectant alone was also not sufficient. The suspension, the instrument-disinfection- and the carrier-tests were based upon the "DGHM-Richtlinien". They were, however, carried out in the water bath at 65 degrees C so that the influence of the temperature and the disinfectant could be determined simultaneously. Good results were obtained with this combination of heat and disinfectant. Fungi and mycobacteria were also destroyed.